Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
AMES WATER TREATMENT PLANT
AMES WATER TREATMENT PLANT delivers tap water graded C (69/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 55,177 residents in AMES, Iowa using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 515-239-5150.
Is AMES tap water safe to drink?
AMES WATER TREATMENT PLANT delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (69/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 55,177 residents in AMES, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 6 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Total PFOS and PFOA, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for AMES residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for AMES WATER TREATMENT PLANT.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Total PFOS and PFOA detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 1.15 ppt, 1153x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal PFOS and PFOA detected at 0.9 ppt, 129x above the EWG health guideline of 0.007 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 2.13 ppb, 36x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact AMES WATER TREATMENT PLANT
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for AMES
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 69/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.15 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1153× over |
| Total PFOS and PFOA PFAS |
0.9 ppt | 0.007 | — | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 129× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
2.13 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 36× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
1.0 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.216 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.24 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 4.1× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
77.4 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
5.63 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
80.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
1.18 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.208 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.224 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.62 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite Inorganic |
0.0824 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
AMES WATER TREATMENT PLANT service area
This water system serves 1 community in Story County, Iowa. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for AMES water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.